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Friday, 7 August 2009

... because the last time it was discussed on this blog it became very boring and unpleasant.

I believe beautiful creations belong to and should be cherished by all mankind.

I believe destroying sacred monuments wherever they are, to whatever religion, is wrong.

I have no more time for Israeli zealots than for Sikh zealots, Muslim zealots, Hindu zealots, white supremacists, Jehovah's witnesses or anybody who is sure they are right

I believe in tolerance.

If what the Taliban did was right because it was "their" country, the logic is simple and inescapable.

When Hitler's Nazis ruled Germany it was "their" country. So homosexuals, gypsies, communists, democrats, Jews, the mentally disabled and anybody who didn't toe the party line were slaughtered in their millions.

When Lenin and Stalin's communists ruled Russia it was "their" country. They outdid Hitler by many millions. When Mao's communists ruled China it was "their" country. They outdid Stalin by countless millions. To this day Buddhists in Tibet and Muslims and Christians all over China are discriminated against.

Following the same twisted logic if a religiously intolerant Evangelical Christian party ever got into power here it would be "their" country.

They would have every right - if temporary possession of power confers that right - to go round blowing up Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu Temples, Jewish Synagogues and Muslim Mosques.

No doubt if the National Front got into power eventually people whose skin is not quite right would be deported - because it would be "their" country.

The last time this kind of thing happened was under Cromwell. It was relatively minor compared to what I have just been talkimng about. But the results have been with us ever since, in mutilated statues and beautiful stained windows lost forever in churches all over the country.

Let those who like 17th century rules live in places where they apply.

And I believe the following rules introduced by the Taliban when they were in power and being reintroduced in those areas they now control were and are wicked and intolerant and discriminate against a group far more important than any religious, ethnic or political group.

Many of them are called our mothers. Our sisters. Our wives. Our daughters.

1. No women allowed to work outside the home, including female teachers, engineers and most professionals.

2. No women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a close male relative.

3. Women not allowed to deal with male shopkeepers.

4. Women not to be treated by male doctors.

5. Women not to study at schools, universities or other educational establishments.

6. Girls' schools closed down

7. Whipping, beating and abuse of Women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules

8. Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9. Public stoning of women accused (but not necessarily proven) of having sex outside marriage.

10. Ban on cosmetics. Many women with painted nails had fingers cut off.

11. Women forbidden to talk or touch males who are not close relations

... because the last time it was discussed on this blog it became very boring and unpleasant.

I believe beautiful creations belong to and should be cherished by all mankind.

I believe destroying sacred monuments wherever they are, to whatever religion, is wrong.

I have no more time for Israeli zealots than for Sikh zealots, Muslim zealots, Hindu zealots, white supremacists, Jehovah's witnesses or anybody who is sure they are right

I believe in tolerance.

If what the Taliban did was right because it was "their" country, the logic is simple and inescapable.

When Hitler's Nazis ruled Germany it was "their" country. So homosexuals, gypsies, communists, democrats, Jews, the mentally disabled and anybody who didn't toe the party line were slaughtered in their millions.

When Lenin and Stalin's communists ruled Russia it was "their" country. They outdid Hitler by many millions. When Mao's communists ruled China it was "their" country. They outdid Stalin by countless millions. To this day Buddhists in Tibet and Muslims and Christians all over China are discriminated against.

Following the same twisted logic if a religiously intolerant Evangelical Christian party ever got into power here it would be "their" country.

They would have every right - if temporary possession of power confers that right - to go round blowing up Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu Temples, Jewish Synagogues and Muslim Mosques.

No doubt if the National Front got into power eventually people whose skin is not quite right would be deported - because it would be "their" country.

The last time this kind of thing happened was under Cromwell. It was relatively minor compared to what I have just been talkimng about. But the results have been with us ever since, in mutilated statues and beautiful stained windows lost forever in churches all over the country.

Let those who like 17th century rules live in places where they apply.

And I believe the following rules introduced by the Taliban when they were in power and being reintroduced in those areas they now control were and are wicked and intolerant and discriminate against a group far more important than any religious, ethnic or political group.

Many of them are called our mothers. Our sisters. Our wives. Our daughters.

1. No women allowed to work outside the home, including female teachers, engineers and most professionals.

2. No women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a close male relative.

3. Women not allowed to deal with male shopkeepers.

4. Women not to be treated by male doctors.

5. Women not to study at schools, universities or other educational establishments.

6. Girls' schools closed down

7. Whipping, beating and abuse of Women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules

8. Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9. Public stoning of women accused (but not necessarily proven) of having sex outside marriage.

10. Ban on cosmetics. Many women with painted nails had fingers cut off.

11. Women forbidden to talk or touch males who are not close relations

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Drayton Bird Marketing Articles

The man Bird and his sad story

The CIM named Drayton one of 50 people who shaped today’s marketing.
And David Ogilvy said he “knows more about direct marketing than anyone in the world.” But don't blame him for all the crap you get sent.
He published his first novel, “Some rats run faster” when 27. Hardly anyone read this brilliant work as it had virtually no plot. 4 more books followed: “Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing” – out in 17 languages; “Salesletters that sell” & “Marketing Insights and Outrages” and "Direct Marketing for Lawyers".
He's written over 1,000 columns, spoken in 50 countries and worked with many leading brands, incl. Amex, BA, Hargreaves Lansdown, Mercedes, Microsoft, Nestle, P & G, IBM, Unilever and Visa.
In 1977, he and two partners set up Trenear-Harvey, Bird & Watson, sold in l985 to O&M. As Vice-Chairman and Creative Director, he helped O&M Direct become the world's largest DM agency network, and was elected to the worldwide Ogilvy Group board.
He now runs Drayton Bird Associates and has interests in 3 other firms. The ones he never visits do much better.
This blog shows what all that has done to his head.